WALTER T. LUCKING, FORMER UTILITY EXECUTIVE DIES, 1914-1992
PHOENIX, Ariz., Oct. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Walter Theodore Lucking, former head of New Jersey's Hackensack Water Company and Arizona Public Service Co., died yesterday in Phoenix, Ariz., after a brief hospitalization. He was 78.
He is survived by his wife, Mary Chase Lucking, their two sons, John C., and Stephen W., both of Phoenix, and four grandchildren. A native of the southwest, Mr. Lucking came East in 1973 as president and chief executive officer of Hackensack Water Company, after completing a first career in the energy industry. During Mr. Lucking's years with Hackensack Water, the company and its industry underwent tremendous change. When computer technology was relatively new in the water industry, he launched ongoing research and technology programs that would establish the company as an industry leader. He helped shape the utility's unique public-private partnership with the North Jersey District Water Supply Commission, a state agency, to build a major regional water resource, the Wanaque South Project. He also oversaw Hackensack Water's consolidation in 1980 from several scattered facilities throughout Bergen and Hudson Counties to centralized offices in Harrington Park.
Robert A. Gerber, who succeeded him as Hackensack Water's president, said, "Walt Lucking was more prophetic than proverbial. He saw how utilities would come to be more customer oriented, and that successful management would hinge on delegation and accountability. And he always kept a high card to play. Few know that the unique private-public arrangement that blossomed into the Wanaque South Project was patterned after a huge multi-party electric power project in the West that Walt had earlier championed." Gerber added, "Walt had the easiest smile in the East. Any who knew him will miss him."
Mr. Lucking returned to Phoenix in 1981 after retiring as chairman of Hackensack Water, but remained a director of the company and its parent firm, United Water Resources (NYSE: UWR), until 1987. A native of Englewood, Colo., Mr. Lucking earned a BS in mechanical engineering in 1935 from the University of Colorado at Boulder. For the first 15 years of his career he held engineering posts with several energy utilities, including eight years with Ohio Public Service Co.
In 1950 he joined Arizona Edison Company of Phoenix, as a vice president. Two years later when a merger created Arizona Public Service Company, Mr. Lucking was designated general superintendent of power supply. In 1952, he advanced to vice president, operations. In 1955 at age 41, Mr. Lucking was elected president of Arizona Public Service Co. He became chairman of the board 11 years later, and served in that capacity until 1972. Active throughout his career in numerous business and civic organizations, Mr. Lucking served as a director of the Boy Scout councils in both Phoenix and Bergen County, N.J. He was a director of the International Solar Energy Association and was named an honorary director in 1971. He served on the boards of directors of the New Mexico and Arizona Land Company and United Jersey Bank of Hackensack, N.J. He was also chairman of the Commerce and Industry Association of Northern New Jersey in 1977-78. A memorial service will be held Sunday in Phoenix. His family would welcome memorial contributions in his name to the All Saints Episcopal Day School, in care of All Saints Episcopal Church and Day School, 6300 North Central Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85012.
Hackensack Water Company and its subsidiary, Spring Valley Water Company, provide public water service to more than a million people in northern New Jersey and southeastern New York. United Water Resources, their parent company, is listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
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/CONTACT: Martha Green of United Water Resources, 201-767-2841/ CO: Hackensack Water Company; United Water Resources ST: New Jersey IN: UTI SU: PER

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